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I feel live I've seen this somewhere before...

Nice. But does it top Music from Some Guys in Space?

Fun fact: in the late 80s various members of the Seattle grunge rock scene had day jobs in, of all places, Muzak.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eight_Legged_Freaks

I didn't know this was based on a true story.

Strange. Being this is /. I was thinking more along the lines of this: http://www.mst3kinfo.com/aceg/8/810/ep810.html

"Attack of The Eye Creatures" and the TV premiere of the ninja show "The Master".

I know Joel got off the ship by stranding Mike, but did Mike ever make it off the satellite of love?

SPOILER ALERT!

In Danger:Diabolik, the very last episode, they do make it back to earth in a crash landing. The funniest part is Tom Servo blowing up all the extra Tom Servos they've accumulated over the years. At the end, the three share a one-bedroom apartment and settle into eat popcorn and--you guessed it--riff on a cheesy movie on TV. Speculation: Someone told me that that was the first movie they had ever riffed before but I can't verify it and I don't think that's true with the KTMA episodes.

Profiteering hypocrites? Not that there's anything wrong with getting paid for your work, but, seriously, you're going to take a show that says "Please copy and share me" RIGHT ON IT, and discourage people from copying and sharing it?

I disagree. The message supported home taping (fair use). There's no way you can interpret that to apply to file-sharing as well. Heck, there was no such thing back when those shows were created.

Nonetheless, there are plenty of episodes which will probably never make it to DVD. I doubt Joel would fault you for downloading them for personal viewing.

Now that Shout Factory bought the rights from Rhino, maybe the sets will be cheaper anyway.

Profiteering hypocrites? Not that there's anything wrong with getting paid for your work, but, seriously, you're going to take a show that says "Please copy and share me" RIGHT ON IT, and discourage people from copying and sharing it?

I disagree. The message supported home taping (fair use). There's no way you can interpret that to apply to file-sharing as well. Heck, there was no such thing back when those shows were created.

Nonetheless, there are plenty of episodes which will probably never make it to DVD. I doubt Joel would fault you for downloading them for personal viewing.

Now that Shout Factory bought the rights from Rhino, maybe the sets will be cheaper anyway.

I know this doesn't apply to Joel directly, but: http://www.mst3kinfo.com/cheap.html

Some of the DVDs do come with un-riffed versions on the flip sides of the DVDs. I don't recall which ones though. Also, I don't think it is worth viewing the movies without the riffing.

http://www.mst3kinfo.com/ward_e/Bit812.html

The entire list, courtesy of http://www.mst3kinfo.com/ward_e/List820.html

Slab Bulkhead
Fridge Largemeat
Punt Speedchunk
Butch Deadlift
Bold Bigflank
Splint Chesthair
Flint Ironstag
Bolt Vanderhuge
Thick McRunfast
Blast Hardcheese
Buff Drinklots
Trunk Slamchest
Fist Rockbone
Stump Beefknob
Smash Lampjaw
Punch Rockgroin
Buck Plankchest
Stump Chunkman
Dirk Hardpec
Rip Steakface
Slate Slabrock
Crud Bonemeal
Brick Hardmeat
Whip Slagcheek
Punch Side-iron
Gristle McThornbody
Slate Fistcrunch
Buff Hardback
Bob Johnson (no, wait...)
Blast Thickneck
Crunch Buttsteak
Slab Squatthrust
Lump Beefbroth
Touch Rustrod
Reef Blastbody
Big McLargehuge
Smoke Manmuscle
Beat Punchbeef
Hack Blowfist
Roll Fizzlebeef

And for all those who don't have a clue what MST3K is and whether you should care:

http://www.mst3kinfo.com/mstfaq/basics.html

(Q1 says "What is Mystery Science Theater 3000?" ;) )

Satellite News is still up and running for anyone who liked MST3K. They have news on the Film Crew and Rifftrax (which is Mike Nelson and guests recording downloadable commentary tracks for various movies), as well as other things that the old Best Brains crew are up to. http://www.mst3kinfo.com/

Mike broke the Hubble! Mike broke the Hubble!

"when they say "pray" in the Star Wars movies (happens more than once across all six movies) - what are they praying to, exactly? Didn't see a whole lot of religion in those movies..."

If you're wondering how he eats and breathes
And other science facts (la-la-la)
Just repeat to yourself "It's just a show,
I should really just relax..."

...That he had a hand in an MST3K favorite, First Spaceship on Venus! Here's a quote from here:

MSTies may recall that he helped convert his 1951 novel "Astronauci" ("The Astronauts") into the 1960 East German film DER SCHWEIGENDE STERN, which, when redubbed in English, became the movie featured in episode 211- FIRST SPACESHIP ON VENUS. When he saw the final product he (understandably) repudiated the film and attempted (unsuccessfully) to have his name removed from it.

MST3K is constantly blaring in my head ...

Bit: Tom Says No to Yes
Episode: 1008- Final Justice
Transcribed by Mark Worhatch

[SOL]

Mike: Hi everyone, Mike Nelson here on the Satellite of Love. This is Tom Servo, and Tom's got something to say.
Tom: Thank you, Mike. Mike, folks, in 1984 the techno-megagiant band named Yes released a song in which they assured us that the (singing in high-pitched voice) "Owner of a lonely heart is much better than the owner of a broken heart."
Mike: Yeah, great song! I remember that one.
Tom: As do we all, Mike. As do we all. But my point is simply this: They introduced a profound topic and then barely scratched the surface. They told me nothing! How does the (singing) "Owner of a lonely heart" (normal voice) compare to, say, the (singing) "Owner of a broken gas fireplace?" (Normal voice) Or for that matter, to the (singing) "Owner of a perfectly functional cheese slicer?" (Normal voice) As the (singing) "Owner of a lonely heart" (normal voice) how do I stack up against the (singing) "Owner of a pencil?" I mean, come on, Yes!
Mike: I don't think it's up to Yes to come up with every possible permutation of--
Tom: Well they brought it up, Mike, and there's so much more to consider. What about the (singing) "Owner of a parcel of land in Montana" (normal voice) versus the (singing) "Owner of a pie?"
Mike: (to Cambot) We'll be right back.
Tom: I mean, how does the (singing) "Owner of a jar" (normal voice) stack up against the (singing) "Owner of a split level?"

[commercial sign]

http://www.mst3kinfo.com//ward_e/bit1008a.html

Exactly. It's pretty simple - if the scientific method can be appropriately applied to a problem related to natural sciences, and it passes muster, then by all means include whatever you want.

But when they try to drag in The Benevolent Boogie Man In The Sky and his fleet of Earth-supporting Space Turtles into it, for crying out loud folks IT IS NOT SCIENCE!

Mystery Science Theater 3000 maybe, but not science.

I swear the U.S. is seeming more "B Ark" every day....

this is the best Sci Fi program currently airing

That's really sad if it's true. I tried, I really tried to watch the pilot. I couldn't watch it for more than 10 minutes. It was that bad. I enjoyed the original Battlestar Galactica, but they are totally unwatchable today except from an MST3K standpoint. They are far more dated than the original Star Trek is.

BG was originally described as Wagon Train in outer space, but if you really examine it it's Mormon's in outer space. The question is: Did they keep the Mormon mythology in the new series?

There's also El Santo, who made more films than all of those guys combined... and whom MST3k fans are undoubtedly already familiar with.

From the MST3K FAQ:

Q: So how come they didn't do "Plan 9 From Outer Space," which is touted the worst movie ever made?
A: BBI said that they did not want to do this movie for several reasons. First, the voice-over from Criswell would interfere with the commenting that Joel/Mike and the 'bots would make. Second, making fun of this movie is just too easy. Everybody has done it. The Brains would prefer fresh territory. Third, it's kind if redundant: The movie really makes fun of itself.
Also, while "Plan 9" is certainly awful, MSTies know better than to think it is the worst movie ever made. MST3K has unearthed several cinematic train wrecks that make it look like "Citizen Kane."

So, I really doubt they'd do any Ed Wood movie, even if the show was still on.

This is ridiculous. I think we should all petition together signatures for a "Cease and Desist" letter to LucasFilms to stop them from making crappy Star Wars "prequels".

LucasFilms obviously has a problem with people being creative and enterprising when it comes to entertainment. I mean, it's just a live version of MST3000 any way, right?

Apparently not. From the official MST3K site: (boldface added by me)

Q: Why did Joel leave MST3K?
A: Hodgson, who had created the series and labored on it ceaselessly for five years, asked off the show, pleading burnout. In the press release announcing his departure, Hodgson summed it up by saying:

"It's time for me to hang up my red jump suit and move behind the camera. Besides, there's an old show business adage I once heard Adam West say: 'Stay in the same costume and before you know it, you end up signing pictures at an R.V. show.' Maybe it was Clayton Moore, now that I think of it."

Q: When he left the show, didn't they say that Joel was going to continue working behind the scenes? But that never happened. Why?
A: Yes, the press release about Joel's departure did say that Joel would "remain a member of the MST3K writing team and...also direct several episodes." Best Brains staffers later said that was the intention, but, as they tell it, almost immediately Joel got an opportunity to work on some other projects in Los Angeles, and he plunged into work on them. He soon was working full-time there on these other projects, and found there was no time to return to Minneapolis. Eventually, Joel had only a financial stake in the series, but no longer offered creative input.

Q: I've heard rumors that Joel was fired and that there was bad blood between him and the rest of the cast and crew.
A: Joel could not be fired. He was the show's creator. No one could have made him leave if he hadn't wanted to go.
Although he covered as best he could during his time on the show, those that know him well say Joel is a shy person who was very uncomfortable in front of the camera, and was even more uncomfortable with his growing fame. Joel also reportedly prefers creating concepts to the day-to-day work of maintaining them. Once a project is up and running, those close to him say, he likes to move on to a new creation. "I want to become a behind-the-camera guy," Joel explained when he left. "I want to get on to the NEXT weird show. I want to bean idea man."
Jim Mallon, however, resisted Joel's attempts to step away from the series, and felt it was Joel's responsibility, as host, to devote himself to the MST3K franchise. Ultimately the two parted ways. In retrospect, we think all sides now realize it was a healthy change for the series, and all the former cast members are on good terms with one another. That was certainly apparent during Joel's 1998 visit to the BBI studios to shoot his appearances in episode 1001- SOULTAKER. The authors of this FAQ were present at the taping, and Joel and the current cast got along comfortably and there was no tension at all during the taping.

I agree with you wholeheartedly, but it whould probably be pointed out that Best Brains Inc. is hardly a big corp. From the Satellite News (official MST3K) web site:

Best Brains Inc. seems to have become a company whose only business is the sales of MST3K merchandise and memorabilia. The only people on staff are Jim Mallon, controller Tim Johnson and Barb Tebben.

well, whether it's legal or not, it certainly seems unethical.

It reminds me of the mid-nineties, when some company produced a sticker of the likeness of "Calvin" of the Calvin and Hobbes comic strips pissing on various logos. I found this to be an offense to the innocence and family appeal of the original comic strip character.

on a side note: It took me almost my entire last year at school, but I managed to download all of the Episodes of MST3K on eMule. Just in case any of you fans were wondering, All but about ten of the episodes are in public domain now. For details go here: To check what titles are legally downloadable go here:

Pretty much anything featured on MST3K could be considered for the "worst... movie... ever..."

I expect my entertainment media to at least TRY not to screw up known facts (except where specifically necessary for the main plot point, and even then the pseudo-physics should be internally consistent). It breaks my WSD when (ID4) the First Lady has a soliloquy while dying of untreatable "internal bleeding" in a military hospital.

Speaking of GTA3:

"Let's make the Earth a free place to live...without war...and traffic accidents..."
-From "Gamara vs. Guiron", MST3k

Gamara is really neat!
He is made of turtle meat!
Gamara! Gamara!

Looks like someone sent them the money, because they are going to bring Mike home.... FAQ

1. It was a tripod capture, with a few adjustments. At the beginning the "EXIT" sign is visible on the left, but then they zoom a bit to remove it. A couple times throughout the film, the picture is rotated slightly but they fixed it after a bit (less than a minute). There are some audio errors (pops and static) but none of the dialog is obscured. The credits are cut off, probably because the guy had to get out of there. There is, however, no audience noise, so perhaps it was a private screening of some sort?

2. I was greatly reminded of MST3K. Perhaps it was because of the somewhat tinny sound, but the music sounded exactly like some of the movies they parody. I couldn't shake that feeling throughout the movie, which made it a bit funnier than it probably should have been. The Architect also reminded me of the Rocky Horror Picture Show's audience line, "This man has no neck!"

3. I like what people have been saying, that when they escaped they only escaped into a "meta-matrix." This would explains Neo's "power" to overcome the sentinels at the end.

4. I caught one of Morpheus's quotes: "I have dreamed a dream, and now the dream is gone from me." (Thanks to watching it on the PC, I could call up Google after pausing it.) This is in Daniel 2:3-5 of the bible, and the title of Daniel 2 is "Nebuchadnezzar's Dream." They did a good job with the references, as I see from other comments many others have found them.

5. I enjoyed the first movie more. Sequels are difficult, but even so it had the best opening weekend of all time. It has some timeless qualities to it: choosing your mate over your tribe, and the consequences of that decision. And the "living in a box (within a box (within a box (within..." -- it'll be interesting to see how the Wachowski brothers decide to end the series. When I saw the first movie it was in the afternoon, and I walked outside to a sunny sky with a few clouds and thought, "whoa." Something inside me had changed; this movie didn't do that, although it was good entertainment.

6. I liked the gift of the spoon from one of the orphans.

7. The special effects were pretty cool, but I really don't see that powerful a difference between the first movie and the second. They spent a lot of money creating the process, and it was money well-spent because the process can be used for many future movies. But so many studios have been adding bullet-time to their films that it just didn't "stand out" like the original.

8. I will see it in the theatre. Perhaps that'll have the "whoa" effect, but perhaps not as I've already seen it. We'll see.

9. The movie didn't flow very straightforward. Some scenes were unmentioned dream scenes until you see Neo wake up, and some scenes were action inside the Matrix, then a meeting from previously, then Neo and Trinity on the ship, then back into the Matrix -- and the footage from the dream scenes was reused toward the end (to good effect, but they saved a little on effects ;-). Because of this jumping around it felt somewhat like Pulp Fiction . I wonder what the brothers think of Quentin Tarantino?

As I said, I'll see it again in the theatre and I'll probably pick up some things I missed the first time around. Enjoy!

Tartikoff's office contacted Joel, and offered a starring role in a new NBC sitcom. They sent him the script for the pilot, and after reading it, Hodgson turned the part down, telling Tartikoff's people it just wasn't funny. Perhaps predictably, the executives mistook Hodgson's complaints, assuming they were just a bargaining ploy. Their response was to offer the role to Joel again, at triple the amount of money they'd first offered.

That was the proverbial last straw. Hodgson was appalled that the executives could not grasp the notion that he would turn a project down purely on its merit and that no amount of money was going to get him to change that stance. Of course, he refused the offer, and in a few months he was back in Minneapolis, declaring he was quitting comedy.

(Incidentally, the series, called High School USA, which Hodgson astutely pegged as "a Fast Times at Ridgemont High rip-off," was one of Tartikoff's most notable failures. Three episodes aired before it was yanked from NBC's fall schedule.)

Hollywood types just don't get it.

Gamera, friend to children!!!

"Men and women breeding better poultry? What kind of sick experiment is going on there?" - Mike, MST3K episode 702

Said Beth Mitchell, a partner in the Boston law firm Nutter McClennen & Fish

No wonder he lost, he was being defended by a squirrel and a fish...

Actually, the first thing that came to my mind was a MST3k sketch where Tom Servo and Crow play a game of squirrel and some sort of under water creature :-)

Episode was number 816, Prince of Space

/ex

Q: In season six episodes, M&TB and Dr. F. seem to have the ability to send objects back and forth to each other. How was that possible?
A: In episode 601- Girls Town a device was introduced that was variously called the "umbilicus," the "umbilicon" and the "umbiliport." It is, quite simply, a tube running from the SOL to Deep 13. In the first episode, it was connected to Gypsy, and objects left the SOL and arrived there through Gypsy's mouth. In later episodes, a simple oven door-like device both in the SOL and Deep 13 has served as the hatchway.

(From the Mystery Science Theater 3000 FAQ)

So, how long before Tor Johnson becomes exposed to the radiation and starts hunting 1950s B-movie babes?
THE BEAST OF YUCCA FLATS (a.k.a. ATOMIC MONSTER; a.k.a. GIRL MADNESS)

If you haven't seen it, you can download the film and other MST episodes here.

Why would I celebrate Perl's birthday. All she does is send horrible movies to those nice 'bots....

Oh, wrong Perl. Nevermind..

I'll send them cheesy movies
The worst I can find <la-la-la>
They'll have to sit and watch them all
And I'll monitor their minds <la-la-la>

If you watch MST3K on the Sci-Fi channel, the last episode to be shown on television will be December 29th. For more information on this, go the the official fan club site and scroll down to "THE FINAL SCHEDULE". Sci-Fi has not renewed their contract to show episodes past January. Even if they did, they could only show reruns; the set has long since been torn down and sold on Ebay.

My karma is high enough, please do not give more. That includes negative amounts.

The show is about a guy, named Mike Nelson, who is stuck up in space with his robot companions, and they have to endure bad movie after bad movie. That's all that you have to know to get started. The whole plot is confusing if I try to get you up to speed in the next few lines, but trust me, this is a show you cannot afford to miss.

In the not too distant future (next Sunday, A.D.) Joel Robinson was under the employ of one Dr. Clayton Forrester. By trapping Joel in space and sending him bad movies, Dr. Forrester and his assistants (such as TV's Frank) attempted to determine the movie that, when inflicted on the masses, would cause insanity and he could control the world. To combat this, Joel invented several robots to keep him company and to heckle the movies mercilessly to ensure his sanity. After several years, Joel escaped to be replaced by Mike Neslon, a temp worker without a clue. After Mike and the bots were turned into omniscient energy beings, they returned to the Satellite of Love (their ship) in the future and were confronted with new adversaries including Pearl Forrester (Dr. Forrester's cryo-frozen mother), Professor Bobo (an ape), and Observer (a super-intelligent alien that carries his brain in a bowl).

The show is about a guy, named Mike Nelson, who is stuck up in space with his robot companions, and they have to endure bad movie after bad movie. That's all that you have to know to get started. The whole plot is confusing if I try to get you up to speed in the next few lines, but trust me, this is a show you cannot afford to miss.

In the not too distant future (next Sunday, A.D.) Joel Robinson was under the employ of one Dr. Clayton Forrester. By trapping Joel in space and sending him bad movies, Dr. Forrester and his assistants (such as TV's Frank) attempted to determine the movie that, when inflicted on the masses, would cause insanity and he could control the world. To combat this, Joel invented several robots to keep him company and to heckle the movies mercilessly to ensure his sanity. After several years, Joel escaped to be replaced by Mike Neslon, a temp worker without a clue. After Mike and the bots were turned into omniscient energy beings, they returned to the Satellite of Love (their ship) in the future and were confronted with new adversaries including Pearl Forrester (Dr. Forrester's cryo-frozen mother), Professor Bobo (an ape), and Observer (a super-intelligent alien that carries his brain in a bowl).

The show is about a guy, named Mike Nelson, who is stuck up in space with his robot companions, and they have to endure bad movie after bad movie. That's all that you have to know to get started. The whole plot is confusing if I try to get you up to speed in the next few lines, but trust me, this is a show you cannot afford to miss.

In the not too distant future (next Sunday, A.D.) Joel Robinson was under the employ of one Dr. Clayton Forrester. By trapping Joel in space and sending him bad movies, Dr. Forrester and his assistants (such as TV's Frank) attempted to determine the movie that, when inflicted on the masses, would cause insanity and he could control the world. To combat this, Joel invented several robots to keep him company and to heckle the movies mercilessly to ensure his sanity. After several years, Joel escaped to be replaced by Mike Neslon, a temp worker without a clue. After Mike and the bots were turned into omniscient energy beings, they returned to the Satellite of Love (their ship) in the future and were confronted with new adversaries including Pearl Forrester (Dr. Forrester's cryo-frozen mother), Professor Bobo (an ape), and Observer (a super-intelligent alien that carries his brain in a bowl).

I shouldn't have to spend a lot of time explaining this one. Who here honestly believes that Micros~1 would put out a digital VCR that would allow you to share recorded shows with your friends?

A digital VCR -- or, more generally, a digital media center -- is a wonderful idea. It would allow you to record, mix, match, edit, transform, and otherwise manipulate the half-dozen or so media sources already streaming into your home (broadcast TV, cable TV, AM/FM radio, Internet). Using a single well-designed system, you could, for example:

• Record that evening's Star Trek broadcast,
• Go to TrekFanSite.org (not a real site) and download the fan-authored cutlist to automatically chop out the commercials,
• Hop over to the Simul-Trek site, download and lay in a replacement soundtrack; or
• Visit MST3Kinfo.com and download an MPEG overlay of Joel/Mike and the bots offering commentary,
• Assemble snippets from various episodes to create some wacky dialog,
• Post the result to your Web site and share it with the world.

Now, which is the more probable: That Micros~1 will create the afore-described flexible, open system that gives ordinary people the power to use media in new ways; or will they create a box that will copy-protect the fsck out of everything -- all the worst features of Macrovision and CSS -- preventing you from even copying the recordings to your own PC, and will fink on you if you try?

Pay very close attention to this one, people...

Schwab

After 10 years of great shows, it has come to an end. Crow, Tom Servo, Mike, Gypsy, Mrs. Forrester, Brain Guy, Bobo, I'll miss you all.

By the way MST3K merchandise can be found here

I'd just point out that, if you can get the Sci-Fi Channel Europe, it's showing MST3K; see the European broadcast schedule.

It's more like they've resigned to their fate, since, as you said, the future looks very grim. If they had the opportunity, as stated on Sattelite News, they'd like to continue going. They're simply not keeping their hopes up; they've been through this all before. If it was difficult last time, the show ought to be hell to save this time around.

As stated all around, the best way to support the show is to get everyone possible to watch. Ratings are what the big chiefs with the leather chairs care about -- the quality of the show doesn't matter to them, nor does its loyal following. The new season starts on Saturday, April 11 at 11:00 AM (and April 12 at 11:00 PM).

If you want the show around, watch. Call all of your friends and tell them to watch, as well. Try to convert new followers.

Did I mention the season premeire has Joel and Frank in it?

The thing is, Sci-Fi simply decided not to renew the series. Best Brains have kind of resigned to this fate; they've been through the ordeal once before and don't particularly expect anything to change. However, they apparently do still have an interest in continuing the show; they just now don't have anywhere to put it. If their contract were renewed, they'd keep chugging along until they did get tired of it (and with the rate of cast turnover, the show could conceivably last forever).

Best Brains and Sci-Fi do, however, still have a good relationship; this isn't like the Comedy Central era. So there is some small sliver of hope even if no one else does pick up the show (and as long as people don't start sending pipe bombs -- not a good way to engender sympathy).

And as for the VHS/DVD deal, they've been working on it for the past few years. Go look.